In consequence of Information that several vessels are expected to arrive in the different Ports of New England with Supplies for His Majestys Rebellious Subjects; You are therefore hereby required and directed to proceed immediately to Sea with His Majesty's Ship under your Command, and Cruize between Cape Cod and Monhagen in New England, using your utmost Endeavors to prevent their receiving those Supplies by Seizing the Ships or Vessels charged with them; You are to use every Attention to Protect the Trade of His Majesty's faithful Subjects, and to give them all the Assistance in your Power; to promote which the destruction of the Piratical Privateers of the Rebels is to be one of your principal Objects.
And As by the Capture of several of these Armed Pirates, your Number of Prisoners may become so large, as to be very inconvenient, you are at liberty in that case to send in a Flag of Truce to Marble Head, with a Letter addressed to Mr Nathl Tracey of Newberry Port (who is the Agent for the Exchange of Prisoners on the part of the Rebellious Inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay,) by a discreet Officer, and to demand an equal Exchange in Rank and Number of the Kings faithful Subjects who may at that time be Prisoners with the Rebels; but if there should not be so many then ready to Exchange, the Officer is to procure a written Promise from Mr Nathl Tracey to release an equal Number, if so many should ever fall into their Hands.
And as Lord Viscount Howe has signified a disinclination to distress the unarmed little Fishing Boats on the American Coast, as the doing so, has been the means of driving the Fishermen either, to enter for Privateers, or into the Rebel Army for a Subsistance; I would recommend to you to further his Lordships benevolent Intentions in respect of those People, when you find them, neither from Numbers or Arms, capable of molesting the Property of the faithful Subjects of the Crown.
You are to continue upon this Station so long as your Provisions may last, or 'till further Order, and then return to this Port.
Given on board His Majesty's Ship Rainbow in the
Harbour of Halifax the 24th of October 1776
To Captain Henry Mowat
Commander of His Majesty's Ship Milford.
